8 Cool Cars Under $20k

Cheap Cars That Bring The Cool-Factor

Cool is a state of mind and hard to define. During the hot summer days we’re always looking for things that are cool. But that’s a whole different meaning. So, let’s loosely define cool as something that makes you stand out. With that definition in mind, let’s look at eight cool cars on the lot for under $20,000.

2016 Kia Soul

The Kia Soul makes the list partly because of its appearance, but also because it provides that fun, interesting body style at a truly affordable price. The Soul is ranked No. 3 in our Compact Cars list. The Soul’s unique appearance translates well to vast interior space, something else that makes the Soul “cool”. The Soul has 24.2 cubic feet of space behind the second row which leads the segment. But fold those seats flat and it expands to 61.3 cubic feet of space which is bigger than many SUVs. All of this in a compact car certainly adds cool points to the Soul, and you can’t beat a car that has a distinctive look. Dancing hamsters aside, the Soul has plenty of merit and is worthy of making this list.

2016 Chevy Cruze

In the smartphone era, connectivity and Wi-Fi are important. The Cruze earns it coolness by making connectivity a priority with a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot and available Android Auto and Apple Car Play features. Anybody who has ever lost a signal at the most interesting point in a podcast will appreciate this technology, all standard for a price under $20,000. The Cruze ranks No. 9 in our Small Cars list. Beyond the technology, the Cruze earns praise for its new 1.4-liter turbocharged engine with over 40 mpg fuel economy. New for 2016 is start/stop technology that further improves fuel economy. 0-60 mph acceleration is a brisk 7.7 seconds, which is tremendous for a small car with a small engine. And that’s pretty cool.

2016 Jeep Renegade

Who doesn’t love to explore off the highway? But off-road beasts are typically expensive. The Jeep Renegade sits at the cool kids table thanks to its off road capability, combined with a starting price of under $20,000. The Renegade is No. 3 in our Subcompact SUV list and No. 6 in our Off-Road SUVs list. The trail-rated Renegade has distinctive styling, agile handling, and a punchy engine. Mated with four-wheel drive, the Selec-Terrain system puts the Renegade at ease in any road condition and lets it cut loose off-road. Front-wheel drive is standard, and the Renegade is always capable and comfortable on pavement.

2016 Toyota Prius C

Okay, let’s admit that there’s very little that’s cool about the Prius. It’s dull to drive, and even though it’s been redesigned for 2016, it’s still nothing that’s going to turn heads. But the Prius C makes the cool list due to its excellent fuel economy. With an EPA rating of 53/46 mpg city/highway, that means fewer trips to the gas pump and that’s very cool. The smallest of the Prius vehicles starts under $20,000 and despite its diminutive size, critics rave about its roomy backseat. We rank the Prius C No. 9 in our Subcompact Cars list. The hybrid’s new Persona trim brings more personality to this otherwise humdrum car.

2016 Honda Fit

The Fit is in its second generation and continues to improve. That’s not why it makes our cool list. Rather, this subcompact hatchback is deemed cool because of its overall high quality interior, versatile seating, and expansive cargo area. Rear legroom in the Fit is better than in the Honda Accord. That alone is cool, but what makes the Fit so darn cool is the “magic seat,” which flips up allowing for floor-to-roof cargo area. This makes storing and transporting items like bikes much easier. For this reason, and coming off a great redesign last model year, we rank the Fit No. 1 in our Subcompact Cars list and No. 3 overall in our Small Cars list.

2016 Subaru Impreza

The Subaru brand has a certain cache and a strong reputation. With all-wheel drive across their product line, they bring a lot of value. So we think it’s pretty cool to be able to get an AWD sedan for under $20,000. The Impreza is our 14th ranked Compact Car. While the Impreza won’t offer an exhilarating drive performance, like the youth-oriented (and ultra-cool) WRX, the ride is composed with excellent handling. Additionally, the interior of the Impreza is comfortable and spacious, even for rear passengers. A tilting and telescoping steering wheel is a nice value feature for a vehicle at this price point. Bonus cool points for the much improved infotainment system in this model year.

2016 Ford Focus

The Focus is available as both a sedan and a hatchback, but it’s best suited as a hatch. We rank the Focus No. 10 in our Compact Cars list and No. 12 in our Hatchbacks list. The sporty handling of the Focus is what makes it cool. The new RS trim makes the Focus downright exhilarating, but sadly the RS trim exceeds $20,000. But even the base trim Focus offers an entertaining driving experience with a responsive electric power steering system and an advanced suspension system. For this model year, Ford greatly improves their much-maligned Sync infotainment system with Sync3. This new update features smartphone-like touch screen controls, including swiping and pinching. It also seamlessly integrates with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

Mazda3

The compact Mazda3 is all kinds of cool thanks to a zippy engine and overall fun-to-drive persona. In a stagnant, dull segment, the Mazda3 differentiates itself with a combination of power, handling, and fantastic fuel economy. The more powerful, 184-horesepower 4-cylinder engine in the s Touring and s Grand Touring trims is incredibly fun and the coolest selection for those who really want to have fun. Otherwise, the zippy Mazda3 brings attractive looks as both a sedan and hatchback. We rank the Mazda3 No. 1 in Hatchbacks and No. 2 overall in our Compact Car list.